Concealed lever-operated fender shield latch



Dec. l0, 1940a A. P. FERGuEsoN CONCEALED LEVER-OPERATED FENDER SHIELD LATCH Filed Aug. 25, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l Uhl.

Dec; 10, l940l A. P. FERGuEsoN 224,428

GONGELED LEVER-OPERATED FENDER SHIELD LATCH Filed Aug. 25, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ig u Patented Dec. 10, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONCEALED LEVER-OPERATED FENDER t SHIELD LATCH Application August 25, 1938, Serial No. 226,649

12 Claims.

This invention relates to fender shields, and more particularly to a concealed lever-operated fender shield latch.

In designing fender shields of the type which are adapted to cover the usual wheel access opening in a vehicle fender, it isimportant that the means which is employed to secure the fender shield in desired position be simpleand quick to operate both in the assembly of the fender shield on the vehicle fender and in removing it therefrom. It must also possess the desired degree of ruggedness when in use and be substantially free from vibration and noise.

It is an object of this invention to provide a novel fender shield and fender shield latching mechanism which possesses the above highly desirable characteristics. l

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved fender shield and fender shield latch which is economical to manufacture, and which is rugged and reliable in use.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a novel concealed lever-operated fender shield latch.

Another and further object of this invention is to provide a novel means for retaining the fender engaging edge portion of a fender shield in desired position on a vehicle fender.

Another and still further object of this invention is to provide a novel combination latching and disengaging means on a fender shield.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a novel means for eiecting a disengagement of a fender shield from a vehicle fender after it has been mounted thereon.

The novel features which I believe to be characteristic of my invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims My invention itself, however, both as to its organization and manner of construction, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a side elevational view of the lower rear part of an automobile having the usual form of vehicle fender and equipped with atender shield constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a rear elevational View of the fender shield and fender shield latching mechanism;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional elevational view of the fender shield taken along the line III-III of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentaryview of the; lower end of the lever-operated latch showing the manner in which it engages the lower portion of the fender shield;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary rear View of the upper portion of thefender shield in a disengaged 5 position from the Vehicle fender;

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VIE-#VI of Figure 5;

Figure '7 is a oross-sectional view of the fender I,

sembled on a rear fender I I of an automobile I2.

The fender ll is formed with the usual opening I3, which anords access to the vehicle wheel I4 and which permits readyremoval of the wheel I4 in an axial direction. The fender shield Ill is disposed over the opening I3 in such a manner as to substantially close the opening and to harmonize with the outer side wall of the'fender I I. The outer surface of the shield Ill, may, of course, be substantially smooth, as is illustratedv in the drawings, or it may assume any desired conguration for the purpose of ornamentation.

` As shown in Figure 2, the outer marginal edge of the fender Il which donnes the opening I3 is underturned, as at I5, while the outer marginal edges which define the base of the fender are underturned as at i6. As is well known to those skilled in the art, fenders of the high crown type are generally provided with theseunderturned edge portions to increase the rigidity of the fender. As will presently be explained, advantage is taken of this feature to assemble and secure the fender shield to the vehicle fender over the opening in the latter.

` In order to provide a suitable support for the ornamental fender shield III, a bar I1 of some suitable resilient or semi-resilient material, such for example as spring steel, is secured to the underturned bottom edge I8 of the fender shield I0 in any convenient manner, such as by rivets I9, it being important only that the outer ends of the bar Il' be free to eX.

The bar l? is so dimensioned as to extend beyond either end of the fender shield I0 to form trunnion members 2l) which are adapted to be lio fender I I. The particular configuration of the trunnion members 29 may, of course, vary through wide limits without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, it being only necessary to shape the ends of the bar I1 so that they will extend around the underturned corners 2| of the fender I| and then downwardly into engagement with the channels formed by the undetrurned edges I6. As will presently be understood, the `trunnion members 29 form a convenient support for the fender shield I9, which permits the fender shield I0 to be rocked into and out of desired position on the vehicle fender I I.

While the trunnion members 20 support the fender shield ID, it will be observed that it is necessary to provide some means which will substantially hold the curved edge 22 of the shield ID rmly against the fender II, One form of fastening means which has been found highly desirable is to provide a rearwardly extending ange 23 on the shield IIl in proximity to the curved edge 22 having a plurality of humped resilient fingers orfastening portions 24. The intermediate portion 25 (see Figure '7) of the flange 23 is preferably shaped to assume approximately the same curvature as that of the underturned edge I5 of the fender I I, while the humped portions 26 of the fingers or portions 24 are arranged to bear against the rear face 52 of the underturned edge I5. It will thus be apparent that as the fender shield IU is rocked into desired position about the trunnion members or supporting arms 20, the iingers 24 are cammed under the underturned edge I5 of the fender I I. As the humped portions 26 of the ngers 24 pass beneath the lowermost point of the underturned edge I5, the fingers 24 snap up against the rear surface 52 to hold the fender shield I!) in engagement with the fender I I. As will presently be explained, however, this Vsecuring engagement is augmented by a novel clamping mechanism which greatly improves the clamping and latching engagement of the fender shield on the vehicle fender and which renders the entire assembly more rugged and less apt to be accidentally disengaged from the fender |I.

A cushioning ring 28 of rubber or other suitable material may be disposed in the channel formed by the intermediate portion 25 of the flange 23 to prevent a direct metal-to-metal contact of this ilange with the vehicle fender I I.

In order to augment the securing engagement provided by the fastening fingers 24, a novel concealed lever-operated fender shield latch mechanism is provided.

Turning now to the various figures of the drawings, and particularly to Figures 2 and 3, this novel latch mechanism is shown as an arrowshape latch plate 29 which is pivotally mounted on the fender skirt as at 3D, and which is operated by a concealed operating lever 3|. The arrow-shape latch plate 29 includes two wing portions 32 and 33 which comprise latching and disengaging portions respectively, as will presently be described.

The concealed operating lever 3| is welded or otherwise suitably secured to the rear face of the latch plate 29 and is arranged to extend across the rear face of the fender shield |04- As may be seen best in Figure 2, the lever 3| is of such length that when the shield I0 is in its mounted position, the lower end 34 of the lever is resting on the cross'bar II (see Figure 4); while in an intermediate position, the lower end 34 is disposed below the lower end of the fender shield I0 (see Figure 2).

The latch plate 29 is mounted on and supported by an upright bracket 35 which extends across the back of the fender shield I3. The lower end of the bracket 35 is turned rearwardly, as at 36 and is riveted or otherwise suitably secured to the cross bar I'I and t-he inturned flange I8 of the fender shield I9, such as at 31. The intermediate body portion 38`0f the bracket 35 is preferably provided with a pressed-out longitudinally extending rib 38 to stiften this portion of the bracket. The upper portion of the bracket 35 is bent rearwardly away from the rear face of the fender shield I0 as at 39, then upwardly in substantially a vertical plane, as at 4I), and then obliquely upwardly and forwardly, as at 4|. The tip of the bracket 42 extends up into the folded area 43 of the circular edge 22 of the fender shield I0. 'I'he tip 42 may be spot-welded or otherwise suitably secured to the rear face of the fender shield I0 if desired.

The upper portion 4|) of the bracket 35 is apertured for the reception of the latch-plate mounting bolt 44. Preferably, a tang or tab 45 is struckout from the bracket 35 adjacent the bolt so as to extend over and bear against one of the flat faces 46 of the head of the bolt 44 to prevent the same from turning in its mounting.

The latch plate 29 ismounted on and carried by the latch plate mounting bolt 44, the shank of the bolt 44 being arranged to extend through suitable apertures in the latch plate 29 and the concealed operating lever 3 I, as at 41. The latch plate 29 is secured in desired position by means of a washer 48 and a nut 49, the latter being arranged to be screwed on the threaded end of the bolt 44. It is to be understood that this latch plate mounting is of such a character that either wing portion 32 or wing portion 33 may be rotated into a vertical position, as is shown in Figures 2 and 5 respectively.

'Ilhe particular shape of the latch plate 29 and the manner in which it carries out its latching and disengaging functions will now be described. More particularly, the wing portion 32 of the arrow-shape latch plate 29 is shaped and arranged to provide a positive latching engagement between the fender shield I0 and the fender II, and the wing portion 33 of the latch plate 29 is shaped and arranged to provide a member for disengaging the fender shield I0 from the fender I The particular shape of wing portion 32 of latch plate 29 may best be seen in Figure 3 of the drawings. More specifically, wing portion 32 is bent obliquely rearwardly and upwardly, as at'59, so as to extend behind the underturned edge I5 of the fender I I. It is terminated in a tip portion 5|, the surface of which is substantially parallel to the surface of the marginal edge portion` 52 of the underturned edge I5. The tip portion 5| is preferably arranged to be disposed in slightly spaced relationship with respect to the surface 52 of the underturned edge I5 when in mounted engagement. That is to say, under normal conditions, the fingers 24, which are disposed 'around the peripheral edge 22 of the fender shield I9, provide the securing engagement which prevents lateral displacement of the fender shield I0 with respect to the fender I. The wing portion 32 of the latch plate 29, however, acts to prevent accidental falling out of the fender shield I0 due to sudden jars or distortions of the fender I I While the car or vehicle is traveling over rough surfaces. It is to be understood, however, that the tip portion 5I of the latch plate 29 may be arranged to directly abut the surface 52 of the underturned edge I5 so as to directly assist the attaching fingers 2li in retaining the fender shield I0 on the. fender.

The disengaging wing portion 33 of the latch plate 29 is shaped quite differently from the latching wing portion 32, as may be seen from an inspection of Figure 6 of the drawings. More specically, the wing portion 33 includes an intermediate portion 53 which is bent obliquely rearwardly and upwardly and then terminates in a tip portion 55 which is bent obliquely forward- 1y and upwardly. The tip portion 54 is spaced at such a distance from the mounting bolt 44 that when the wing portion 33 is in a vertical position, as is shown in Figure 5 of the drawings, the tip portion 54 extends above the underturned edge I5 of the fender Il. The left hand side of the tip portion 54 when viewing the construction as in Figure 5 of the drawings, is rounded over in a gradually curved surface as at 55. -The curved surface 55 and the principal surface of the tip portion 54 are arranged and designed to provide a cam which will engage the underturned marginal edge I5 when the latch plate 29 is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Figures 2 and 5 of the drawings and to force the entire fender shield I0 downwardly and outwardly against the resilient action of the trunnion bars 20 to positively dislodge the fender shield I Il from the fender II. Due to the fact that the upper surface of the tip portion 54 is disposed at an angle which extends rearwardly and downwardly away from Jthe fender shield II), it will be clear that in addition to forcing the fender shield I0 downwardly as thelatch plate 2S is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction, it will also push the upper portion of the fender shield IB outwardly away from the fender II.

In Figure 8 I have illustrated a modified form of my invention wherein the wing portion 32 of the latch plate 29 is arranged to directly engage the surface 52 of the underturned edge I5 ofthe fender I I. In this form of my invention, the latching engagement provided by the tip portion 5I of the latch plate 29 directly and at all times augments the latching engagement provided by the fingers 24. The rest of the fender shield and the fender shield latching and disengaging mechanism is the same as that described in connection with Figures 1 to '7 of the drawings.

To assemble a fender shield of either of the forms hereinabove described, it is simply necessary to bring the fender shield I!) into a posi-j tion opposite the opening I3 in the fender lII and then hook the trunnion members 2l] into the underturned base edges I5 o-f the fender Il. Then with the operating lever 3l disposed in a vertical position as is shown by the dotted lines in Figure 2, the fender shield IIJ is rocked o-r shoved into position on the fender II. As the fender shield lil is `rocked into position, the fingers 24 are cammed under the underturned edge I5 of the fender II whereupon they snap up behind the underturned edge I5 to detachabiy retain the fender shield on the 4 fender II. The person mounting the fender shield I!) on the fender Il then reaches behind the'fender shield I3, grasps the operating lever 3|, and rotates it until the latching wing portion 32 of the latch plate 29 is rotated to a position such as is shown by the full lines in Figure 2. Since the wing portion 32 is designed and arranged to extend in a vertical direction when the lowe'i` end 34 of the operating lever 3l is resting on the cross bar II, it is simply necessary for the operator to angularly move the operating lever 3I until he can snapv it over the cross bar I'I.r Due to the fact that the lower end of the operating lever 3I is bent forwardly and then downwardly, as is shown in Figure 4, it is clear that it will be necessary to slightly lpull the lower end of the operating lever outwardly in order to permit it to pass over the inturned edge I8 and the cross bar I'I at the lower edge of the fender shield I0. ri'he operating lever 3i is preferably designed so thatfwhen it is disposed with the lower end 34 on the cross bar I'I it presses with a slight force against the rear face of the fender shield IIl. This serves to firmly hol-d` the operating lever 3I in desired position and also prevents any rattling or noise at this point.

To dislodge the fender shield I0 from the fender II, the operator reaches behind the fender shield I8, grasps the operating lever 3I and rotates it through approximately 90, or in other words to a position approximately 45 to the other side of the vertical. As the operating lever 3I is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Figures 2 and 5 of the drawings,

the tip portion 56 of the latch plate 29 moves up against the underturned edgeY I5 and forces the fender shield downwardly and the upper edge of the fender shield outwardly. Just after the curved edge Z2 of the fender shield I0 is freed from its interengaging connection with the edge I5 of fender II by the portion 55 of the latch plate 25, the elements of the assembly are in the position shown in Figures 5 and 6 vof the drawings. As Jthe upper edge of the fender shield II) falls away from the fender II, the fender shield .is grasped vand lifted away from the fender II, the trunnicn members 20 being disengaged at this time.

From the above description, it will be apparent wholly concealedduring the time the fender.

lshield is'mounted on the vehicle. This provision of a concealed operating mechanism as will readily be apparent to those skilled in the art greatly enhances the appearance of the fender shieldand'of the vehicle as a whole.

Although I have shown particular embodiments of my invention it will, of course, be understood that I do not wish to be limited thereto, since many modifications may be made, and I therefore contemplate by the appended claims to cover all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim as my invention:

l. In a fender shield of the type having a por-y tion thereof shaped to inter-engage the peripheral edge of a vehicle fender and resilient up# wardly biasing supporting means arranged to maintain said shield in engagement with said edge, a fender shield latching and dislodging mechanism comprising a plate member having projecting arms diverging therefrom at substantially a right angle to each other, said member being mounted on said shield for angular move ment in a plane generally parallel to said shield, one of said diverging arms having the end thereof spaced back from the plane of the shield far enough to extend up behind said peripheral edge of saidfender when disposed in substantially a iii vertical position, and the other of said arms having a radially outwardly facing surface arranged to bear against said edge and force said shield out of engagement therewith when said other arm is moved into a substantially vertical position.

2. In a fender shield of the type having a portion thereof shaped to inter-engage the peripheral edge of a vehicle fender and resilient upwardly biasing supporting means arranged to maintain said shield in engagement with said edge, a fender shield latching and dislodging mechanism comprising a plate member having projecting diverging arms extending therefrom, said member being mounted on said shield for angular movement in a plane generally parallel to said shield, one of said diverging arms having the end thereof spaced back from the plane of the shield far enough to extend up behind said peripheral edge of said fender when disposed in substantially a vertical position and the other of said arms having a radially outwardly facing surface arranged to bear against said edge and force said shield out of engagement therewith when said other arm is disposed in substantially a vertical position and a normally concealed operating lever secured to said plate and extending across substantially the entire rear face of said shield.

3. In a fender shield having resilient upwardly biasing supporting means adapted to maintain said shield on a vehicle fender over a wheel opening therein, an arrow-head shaped member including a tip portion and two wing portions, said tip portion being rotatably mounted on the rear of said shield, one of said' wing portions having an inclined outer end arranged to engage the wheel opening edge of said fender and force said shield downwardly and outwardly, and the other of said wing portions being set back far enough to extend up behind said fender edge and act as a latch.

4. In a fender shield having resilient upwardly biasing supporting means adapted to maintain said shield on a vehicle fender over a wheel opening therein, an arrow-head shaped member including a tip portion and two wing portions, said tip portion being rotatably mounted onv the rear of said shield, one of said wing portions having an inclined outer end arranged to engage the wheel opening edge of said fender and force said shield downwardly and outwardly, and said second wing portion having its outer end shaped to extend upwardly behind the wheel opening edge of said fender when said member is in a predetermined angular position.

5. In a fender shield construction comprising a sheet metal panel for covering the wheel opening of a vehicle fender and a centrally disposed bracket secured to and extending substantially from top to bottom across the rear face of said panel, a generally triangular plate member rotatably mounted on said bracket in proximity to the top of said panel, one portion of said plate member being shaped to latch said shield in place on said fender when disposed in one predetermined angular position, and a second portion of said plate being shaped to bear against said fender and force said shield downwardly away therefrom when said plate is moved to a second predetermined angular position.

6. In a fender shield construction comprising a sheet metal panel for covering the wheel opening of a vehicle fender and a centrally disposed bracket secured to and extending substantially from top to bottom across the rear face of said panel, a generally triangular plate member rotatably mounted on said bracket in proximity to the top of said panel, one portion of said plate member being shaped to latch said shield in place on said fender when disposed in one predetermined angular position, a second portion of said plate being shaped to bear against said fender and force said shield downwardly away therefrom when said plate is moved to a second predetermined angular position, and a normally concealed operating mechanism for moving said plate member from one predetermined angular position to said second predetermined angular position.

'7. In a fender shield construction comprising a sheet metal panel for covering the wheel opening of a vehicle fender and a centrally disposed bracket secured to said shield and extending substantially from top to bottom across the rear face of said panel, a generally triangular plate member rotatably mounted on said bracket in proximity to the top of said panel, one portion of said plate member being shaped'to latch said shield in place on said fender when disposed in one predetermined angular position, and a second portion of said plate being shaped to cam said shield out of engagement with said fender.

8. In a fender shieldv construction comprising a sheet metal panel for covering the wheel opening of avehicle fender and a centrally disposed bracket secured to said shield and extending substantially from top to bottom across the rear face of said panel, a generally triangular plate member rotatably mounted on said bracket in proximity to the top of said panel, one portion of said plate'member being shaped to latch said shield v in place on said fender when disposed in one predetermined angular position, a second portion of said plate being shaped to cam said shield out of engagement with said fender, and an operating lever rigidly secured to saidplatei member and extending downwardly across the rear face of said panel, said lever being completely concealed behind said shield when said triangular plate member is in its latching position.

Y9; In a fender shield having a resilient upwardly biasing supporting means adapted to maintain said shield on a vehicle fender over a wheel opening therein, a generally triangular plate member rotatably lmounted on the rear of said shield for angular movementv in a plane generally parallel to the main body portion of saidl shield, one portion of said plate member being shaped to latch said shield in place on said fender when disposed-in one predetermined angular position, and a second portion of said plate being shaped to bear against the wheel opening edge of said fender'and force said shield away `therefrom when said plate member is moved to a second predetermined angular position.

10. In a fender shield lhaving a resilient upwardly biasing supporting means adapted to maintain said shield on a vehicle vfender over a wheel opening therein, a substantially rightangled triangular shaped plate member, said`4 from said fender when said plate member is moved to a second predetermined angular position.

11. In a fender shield of the type having a portion thereof shaped to inter-engage the peripheral edge of a vehicle fender and resilient upwardly biasing supporting means arranged to maintain said shield in engagement with said edge, a combination latch and dislodging member pivoted on the rear face of said fender shield in proximity to its upper edge and arranged for angular movement in a plane generally parallel to the face of said shield, comprising a sheet metal plate having angularly spaced arm portions formed therein, one of said arm portions having the extremity thereof far enough back of the plane of the shield to extend upwardly behind the peripheral edge of said fender and positively latch said shield in position on said fender, and said second arm portion having a rearwardly and radially outwardly facing surface located so as to bear against said peripheral edge of said fender and force said shield downwardly and outwardly away from said fender when said plate is rotated to a predetermined position.

12. In a fender shield comprising a panel adapted to close the wheel access opening in the side of a fender with the upper edge of said panel being folded over and adapted to t against the side of said fender around said opening, said panel having a reinforcing ange along its lower edge and means for pivotally supporting said lower edge on said fender at either side of said opening: a latch mechanism comprising an upright stay on the back of `said panel having the upper end thereof fitting under said folded-over upper edge of said panel and the lower end thereof secured to said ange along the lower edge of said panel, a pivot on the upper part of said stay with the axis thereof perpendicular to said panel, and a latch member mounted on said pivot, said latch member having a latch portion extending up far enough to engage the back of said fender above said wheel access opening and hold said panel against the side of said fender, said latch member also having a handle extending down at an angle to said latch portion, the length and resiliency and angle of said handle being such that when said latch portion is approximately vertical the end of said handle may rest on top of the reinforcing flange at the bottom of said panel and can be sprung back olf of said flange and swung down and lengthwise of said panel for swinging said latch portion down from behind said fender.

ARTHUR P. FERGUESON. 

